Successful crackdown on sales to underage customers

Retailers in East Renfrewshire have been encouraged to embrace the Challenge 25 policy when it comes to the sale of cigarettes and vape products

- EMYLIE HOWIE

East Renfrewshire Council is cracking down on underage tobacco and nicotine vapour productsales-with 100 per cent of retailers in the area tested during the 2024/25 financial year.

After retailers received initial business advice from Trading Standards Officers, test purchasers carried out 79 visits to outlets across the local authority.

A total of 15 per cent of these retailers failed to effectively use the Challenge 25 policy and did not request to see a proof of age when visited by an 18-year-old test purchaser.

After being issued warnings by the council's Trading Standards team, retailers were given further advice and submitted for formal test purchasing by a test purchaser under the age of 18.